Festivus Waste Report 2017

Diunggah oleh

Deskripsi:

In its third year, Dr. Paul’s Festivus "Waste Report" again shines a spotlight on wasteful spending and misplaced priorities that put taxpayers on the hook for the federal government’s bad management. Dr. Paul’s series has, over three years, documented approximately $6 billion in wasteful spending.

Hak Cipta:

Format Tersedia

Festivus Waste Report 2017

Diunggah oleh

Deskripsi:

In its third year, Dr. Paul’s Festivus "Waste Report" again shines a spotlight on wasteful spending and misplaced priorities that put taxpayers on the hook for the federal government’s bad management. Dr. Paul’s series has, over three years, documented approximately $6 billion in wasteful spending.

AIRING OF

GRIEVANCES FESTIVUS 2017

A Festivus collection of government waste worth shouting about.

Presented by the Federal Spending Oversight Subcommittee- Rand Paul, M.D. Chairman THE WASTE REPORT’s Airing of Grievances for 2017 We’ve got a lot of problems with how our tax dollars are spent!Happy Festivus! Hard to believe it has been another yearalready. Seems like just yesterday our national debt wasinching closer to $20 trillion, and now it’s pushing $21trillion. And what a year it was!!! Wonder Woman dominatedat the box office. For the first time ever, the HoustonAstros won a World Series, and the world got a new iPhone(and lost a home button in the process). Yet while ourhomes and cars continued to get smarter, the same cannot besaid for our federal government and how it sends and wasteshardworking Americans’ tax dollars.For another year, The Waste Report diligently highlighted$83,405,000 worth of wasteful spending, misplacedpriorities, and bad management. This year, we featured suchfollies as building a parking lot at a casino, souping up agolf course in St. Croux with solar panels in the name ofrural development, improving the taste of tomatoes, andmaking digital down markers for football games. Just whatyou would expect your tax dollars to go to, right?Hey, but that’s not all. We kicked off the year with aseries cataloging wasteful, taxpayer-funded endeavorsoverseas in WORLDWIDE WASTE: How the Government is Usingand Losing Your Money Abroad. In total, we documented morethan $3 billion of taxpayer money going to such things asclown school in Argentina, sending motorbikes to Pakistan,and teaching Kenyan farmers how to use Facebook and Twitter- #Waste.So, before the Feats of Strength can begin, there must bean airing of (spending) grievances.

And now you’re gonna hear about it!

Keep track of Sen. Paul’s efforts to expose government waste and reform federal spending: Visit hsgac.senate.gov/subcommittees/fso/reports or paul.senate.gov and search “waste report” THE WASTE REPORT’s Airing of Grievances for 2017In this report, you will find...

• What it means to you Page 3

• Special Features • Interested in Waste Page 5

• Compilation of Reports Page 6

Keep track of Sen. Paul’s efforts to expose government waste and reform federal spending: Visit hsgac.senate.gov/subcommittees/fso/reports or paul.senate.gov and search “waste report” THE WASTE REPORT’s Airing of Grievances for 2017

So, what does $563,421,523 of wasteful spending mean to you?

If just the waste we found is : $563,421,523

And the average taxpayer pays about : ÷ $8,136

Then Uncle Sam WASTED all the taxes of : 69,250 people

That is roughly the population of Sen. Paul’s hometown of

Bowling Green, KY.

So the question is:

Keep track of Sen. Paul’s efforts to expose government waste and reform federal spending: Visit hsgac.senate.gov/subcommittees/fso/reports or paul.senate.gov and search “waste report” THE WASTE REPORT’s Airing of Grievances for 2017So, what else could we have done with $563 , 421 , 523?

Still think government waste

is too small to worry about? Keep track of Sen. Paul’s efforts to expose government waste and reform federal spending: Visit hsgac.senate.gov/subcommittees/fso/reports or paul.senate.gov and search “waste report” March 21, 2017

INTERESTING TIMES THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT (AND THE TAXPAYERS’) COST OF BORROWING

Last week, the federal government hit what is known nearly $297,000. Worse still, Sam isn’t bashful about hisas the “debt ceiling.” Not sure what the debt ceiling is? plan to keep spending more than he makes each year forWell, just like a credit card limits people on the amount the rest of his life.they can charge, the law limits how much the federalgovernment can borrow (the so-called “debt limit”). It doesn’t take a financial whiz to see that Sam cannot keep this up too much longer. Be it the credit card in your wallet or federal borrowing, Why Should You Care?the reasoning for the limit is the same: no person or evengovernment can borrow unlimited amounts of money As we know, Uncle Sam is not a real person with aforever. Without a limit, the minimum payments will just job. Instead, he is an enormous government that getskeep growing until they are unmanageable. almost all his money from your taxes. Even if he is only paying interest (the minimum payment), he has to pay that When we hit the limit, Uncle Sam will try to delay but in cash. That means the first $1,966 YOU PAY in taxeswill eventually call on Congress for a credit limit increase will go just to interest payments.4 Not defense, not(like anyone with a spending problem). education, not roads - interest. Worse, it is all wasted. The government and you, the taxpayer, do not actually The Federal Credit Card get anything for this - not one hour of work and not So what exactly does Uncle Sam’s credit card even one sticky note.statement look like? Well, the Congressional Budget Interest Roll CallOffice (CBO) estimated in January that our federal grossdebt will be $20.36 trillion1 by the end of this year, with net If you are like most people, at some point you have satinterest of $295 billion.2 Both of these numbers are up down to pay your credit card bill(s) and thought, “Interestfrom our report last year, Interested in Waste, by is killing me. I could pay for a lot of other stuff (or pay thisapproximately $1 trillion and $40 billion respectively - the card down faster) if it weren’t for this interest.” We’vedirect result of failing to balance the federal budget. thought the same thing about the federal interest payment. So, what could we pay for? The $295 billion in These are all big numbers. So to put it in perspective, interest payments we will pay this year COULD havelet’s imagine Uncle Sam is an average American and covered the budgets of the Departments of:makes an annual wage of $48,320.3 Sam would already Commerce, Energy, Homeland Security, Housing andhave $288,954 in debt. His minimum payment on that Urban Development, Interior, Justice, and State, asdebt would be nearly $4,000 this year, but that is just well as the EPA, NASA, the National Sciencebecause he did a balance transfer a while ago and is still Foundation, the Small Business Administration, theon a low teaser rate of about 2%. Someday soon, that U.S. Congress, the Federal Courts, all internationalrate is going to expire, and his payment will at least assistance programs, the Executive Office of thedouble. Even still, right now Sam seems to be able to President, and the Army Corps of Engineers –manage his debt, except that Sam plans to spend $56,255 COMBINED.5this year - increasing his debt load by almost $8,000 to

1 4
https://www.cbo.gov/sites/default/files/115th-­‐congress-­‐2017-­‐
$295
billion
divided
by
150
million
individual
tax
returns
filed
in
2018/reports/52370-­‐outlook.pdf,
Page
29
2016
(IRS
statistics).
https://www.irs.gov/uac/filing-­‐season-­‐2
Ibid.,
Page
10
statistics
3 5
https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_nat.htm
Taken
from
OMB
Historical
Table
THE WASTE REPORT’s Airing of Grievances for 2017Taxpayer dollars were wasted by the federal government as it...Developed Digital Down Markers for use at football games (Commerce) ….…………………………................................... $130,000Did Market Research for Electric Car Industry (NSF) …..………………………….………………………………….…........... $270,000Sent British Bloggers on a U.S. Vacation (State) …..…………………………………………………………………................. $75,000Built a Bathroom in a Queens, NY, Park (Dep. of Transportation) ………………………………………………………........ $1,500,000Recreated a Rug with little Historic Value that hadn’t been preserved in the first place (Park Service) ……………….......... $40,000Came after YOU for not paying taxes but let Contractors Slide for overbilling (IRS) …………………............................ $76,000,000Built a New Parking Lot for a Casino with a troubled past. (Bureau of Indian Affairs) …..…………………………..…......... $500,000Got into the swing of things with “Rural Development” at an Island Resort Golf Course (USDA) .………..………............. $125,000Allowed Section 8 landlords to overbill the Government (HUD) …………………………..………….....…......................... $3,100,000Studied How To Make Tomatoes Taste Better (NSF) …………………………..…….……................................................ $1,500,000Supported Dances with Vehicles and Equipment (National Endowment for the Arts) …………………………………...…… $160,000

Taxpayer Dollars Wasted: $563,421,523

UNCLE SAM: 4TH AND LONG ON FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY

FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DEVELOPS DIGITAL FOOTBALL DOWN MARKER GAMES
When football season kicks off, you might notice The scoreboard company “now has a product,” thesomething new stalking up and down the sidelines. No, eDown, they can sell and profit from. However, at nearlynot a boisterous head coach, or a menacing linebacker 15 times the price of a traditional, mechanical downitching to get in the game. It’ll be a digital down marker,7 one has to wonder if a market exists for thismarker… one your tax dollars paid to help develop. Cadillac of its industry. If not, it is only the taxpayer who You heard that right. Auburn University used bore development risk; in other words, the upside is tonearly $130k in federal funds1 from the Economic the company and the downside to the taxpayers.Development Administration (EDA) to help develop Consider this: a scoreboard manufacturer alreadythe eDown, a battery powered down marker that deals with digital displays used at sporting events. Thisdisplays numbers from 1 to 4 in LED lights.2 particular manufacturer specializes in scoreboard and It all started when a scoreboard manufacturer from game clocks that are mobile8 – requiring a battery.Roanoke, AL, (about 45 miles from Auburn) contacted It appears this company was already wellthe university with the idea for a digital down marker. positioned to develop the eDown on their own. OneThe problem, it seems, is the old mechanical down might argue they needed some technical assistancemarkers were less visible in lower light,3 required similar to how a farmer might use a university extensionoperators to reach above their head, and could jam (we program. But Auburn made the prototype. That is notnever noticed that).4 like an extension program testing your soil; it is like Auburn agreed it was time for something new and, them planting your fields for you.armed with EDA funding, used a semester-long industrialdesign course to help develop the down marker. Sixteen Doing Fine Without Uncle Samstudents (all presumably paying tuition) developed eightprototypes, one of which was selected by the private Certainly college and athletic innovation arescoreboard company that now SELLS the marker as the intertwined and have led to major economiceDown.5 development - Gatorade from the University of Florida and Nike from the University of Oregon come to mind. If You Build It… Others Will Profit But the first waffle-soled Nikes that graced the feet of Steve Prefontaine in the early ‘70s were not developed “The group [at Auburn] worked so well as a by an EDA-funded program. No, Bill Bowerman built histeam, and everyone contributed something to the prototypes in his garage with his wife’s waffle iron.final design. As a result, our company now has a Uncle Sam did not make the shoe for him (or fundproduct that is already setting a new standard in someone else to), let alone buy the waffle iron.9professional, collegiate and high school football.”6 Somehow still, Nike seems to have done just fine.[emphasis added]

TOO FAR TO CHARGE WASTE

For most people, when a car’s gas warning light These are the questions researchers at Arizonacomes on, there is a moment of fear, even if only for a State University are seeking to answer. Their studysplit second – where is the nearest gas station? will explore topics including how current owners ofFortunately for most people, a gas station is usually such vehicles in Southern California have alreadynever more than a few miles or even a block away. adapted, and how potential buyers in ConnecticutBut for the driver of an alternative fuel vehicle, the low use refueling station maps to inform theirfuel light can mean serious trouble. decisions. Investigators will also conduct a “hands-on workshop” with stakeholders to discuss Apparently, this is also of some concern to the refueling network design.5National Science Foundation (NSF), which is spendingnearly $270,000 to research how the availability of Concern of the Taxpayer?alternative fuel affects a person’s decision to buyor lease a vehicle that runs on something other It is not that this research has no value; in fact,than gasoline.1 it is certainly of great value to the companies producing and selling alternative fuel vehicles. Reason for Concern However, they should be the ones funding this study, not the taxpayer. Electric refueling locations are by far the mostprominent of all.2 Yet it is estimated Tesla alone needs Certainly GM, Nissan, Ford, and Tesla, eitherto spend $8 billion “to add about 30,000 new chargers themselves, or through trade associations like theto compete with the network of gas stations across the Renewable Fuels Association, Natural Gas Vehiclescountry. …”3 for America, or CNG Now, could pony up the money for this study. Other alternative fuels are even harder to find.There are only about 197 biodiesel, 953 compressednatural gas, and 40 hydrogen refueling stations in theentire U.S.4

Someone considering buying alternative fuel

vehicles has to wonder: “Where will I refuel? How willthis affect my travel habits and daily life? Is this worthit?”

TAXPAYERS BRING BRITISH BLOGGERS TO AMERICA

Waste Report readers will recall last experiences in these cities, the bloggersyear’s “A Better, More Peaceful presumably would be better able to conveyUnderstanding of Waste,” where we Americanism to their audience across thediscussed the U.S. Embassy in London pond.spending $90,000 to foster better All that would make sense if this wereunderstanding with the United Kingdom.1 1890 or even 1990, but, as The Waste Well, it turns out they are at it again. Report has noted before, thanks to theLate last year, our Embassy in London Internet, 24-hour news, and affordable airoffered a grant worth as much as $75,000 transportation, our understanding of theto help bring as many as 10 “social U.K., and theirs of the U.S., is not lacking.media journalists and bloggers” to the In fact, nearly 4 million Brits visit theU.S. to explore “American values and U.S. each year, and 1.2 million visit morecultural issues that shape the American than one state.4 These people probably doidentity and deepen U.K. youth audiences not need their bloggers’ input to have anunderstanding of the United States in the American experience, as they have their21st century.”2 [emphasis added] own or at the least have a high probability An American Holiday for British of knowing someone who does. Bloggers The grant opportunity mentionedsending the bloggers to visit “cities such asCharleston, Orlando, Dallas, SanFrancisco, and Chicago”3 to learn aboutAmerican issues and themes - in otherwords, a real American experience, fundedby the U.S. taxpayer. With firsthand

American Values.” Funding Opportunity No. DOS-London-PD-2017-

FLUS SHING AW WAY TAX X DOLLAR RS THE U.S. U DEPT. OF TRANSP PORTATIONN SPENT $11.5 MILLION N ON A BATHROOM B M IN A QUEE ENS, NY PA ARK Youu may havee seen Johnn Stossel’s Reason stoory brokenn on that parrt of the project until shoortly after federaldescribiing a $2 million bathroom facility in Brooklyn, NY, moneyy was awardded,6 it is cleaar the centraal aim was noot tothat toook seven-andd-a-half yearss to complete.1 One couuld fund thhe parking loot portion of tthe project.be forggiven for thinking suchh a boondoggle receiveedsupportt from Uncle Sam in the form of o tax dollarrs, You Coould Buy a H House for Thhis Priceparticulaarly becausse there is another park bathrooom Noot only shouuld the federal governm ment, particularlyconstrucction project just as goodd... or, well, bad. b USDO OT, not be fuunding bathrooms at citty owned paarks, but thee price is jusst ridiculous. The complleted bathro oom Justt up the roadd from Stosssel’s discovery, this time in is justt 800 squaree feet, meanning the price per sq. ft.f isQueenss, Uncle Sam found a way to flush awaay arounnd $1,875. Meanwhile, real eestate websitetaxpayeers’ hard-eaarned moneey on a $1.55 million paark Truliaa.com reporrts the averaage price peer sq. ft. forr anbathrooom.2 entiree house in Queens iss roughly $481, abou ut a quarteer the price Uncle Sam paid. 7

Federral Transporrtation Projeect?

Onee of the most interresting asppects of thhis Ass Stossel notted in his repport, Bryant P Park, a privaatelyboondoggle is that the bathroom m was fundeed by the U.S. ownedd park in Maanhattan, renovated a ssimilar bathrooomDepartm ment of Traansportation (USDOT). Aren’t they for jusst $271,000.8supposeed to build rooads? 12 Yeears from S Start to Firstt Flush It appears the justification j for USDOT’s involvemeent When the fedeeral governm ment decidedd to give funddingwas a cconcurrent expansion e off a parking lot l adjacent to to thiss project in 20012, it had aalready been in the workss forthe batthroom faciliity. The tw wo projects were bundleed eight years, and it would taake anotherr four yearss totogether at a cost of $6.7 milllion. Whilee most peopple compl ete.would nnot expect federal f highwway funds too be used for fparking lots at city parks, p at leasst cars drive on o them. When the ribbbons were finally cut in 2016, State S Senatoor Tony Aveella, who pusshed for the bathroom when w But make no mistake, Uncle U Sam paid for thhe he waas city counccilman, attributed part of the delay to thebathrooom. USDOT issued two grantsg on thee same day for f structuure’s custom m design, sayying, “Wouldnn't it be betteer tothe projject - one inn the amount of $1.6 million, and thhe 3 have a standard design? I don't think my constitueentsother foor just over $159,000. $ 4 That T is moree than enouggh care iff this comfoort station loooks the sam me as a com mfortto repavve a mile of a four-lane highway.5 stationn in Brooklynn.” 9

Bothh grants notee the parkingg lot AND batthroom as paart Yoou are probbably right, Senator A Avella, but let’sof the project deescriptions on USASP PENDING.goov. not foorget the B Brooklyn version cost $2 million andHoweveer, since onne grant waas for almosst exactly thhe still toook over 7 yyears to com mplete.same aamount as thhe bathroom m cost, and ground wasn’t

Anyone that has tried to decorate a room or keep So people are walking on this supposed nationaloutside debris off a hard-surface floor knows the value of treasure, and concern was raised about this more than aa good rug. A good rug can run thousands of dollars, decade ago?but while hardworking Americans may be willing to In fact, in 2016, a professional conservator noted thespend such sums on their home, they will likely pause rug was in poor condition and recommended it be placedwhen hearing the National Park Service (NPS) is in the park’s museum. 6 Perhaps it should have beenspending $44,890 for a 21-foot rug at the Lincoln there all along or at least for the last decade.Boyhood National Memorial (Boyhood Memorial) inLincoln City, Indiana. 2 Even the company that got the contract to produce Historic Value? the replica was confronted with something of a problem due to the rug’s poor condition. The rug NPS is procuring is a replica of one madeand given to the Boyhood Memorial in 1943 as a tribute Because the rug was not well preserved, theto Lincoln’s mother 3 - 125 years after Mrs. Lincoln colors have faded, leading them to ask, “[D]o we gopassed away. 4 to the real colors ... or, since everyone is looking at that, do we match it?” 7 One has to ask, is the rug really of such historicalsignificance that the Park Service needs to spend nearly If so little care was taken with the original$45k to replace it? rug, is it that historically important? Or, if it is so historically important to warrant a replica be What Happened to the Old Rug? made, why was it not cared for better? One may wonder why the rug in question needs tobe replaced at all. Certainly a rug of such importancehas been maintained and preserved? Not quite. Peopleare actually allowed to walk on the rug. This concernedone commenter to the Boyhood Memorial as far back as2005. A letter that was included in the final 2005 GeneralManagement Plan for the park states, “I continue tovoice my concern about the traffic on the rug in

1 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0118715/quotes2 https://www.fbo.gov/index?s=opportunity&mode=form&id=14b 53ae3f95a5d1d05713ba9d7c79485c&tab=core&tabmode=list& http://bit.ly/2tFjfVT3 6 Statement of Work Statement of Work4 7 https://www.nps.gov/libo/learn/historyculture/nancy-hanks- http://www.concordmonitor.com/braided-rug-lincoln-lincoln.htm 10613976 April 20, 2017 NOT ONLY DO THEY TAKE OUR MONEY, BUT NOW THEY WASTE IT, TOO THE IRS FAILS TO RECOVER OVER $76 MILLION OF UNALLOWABLE CONTRACTING COSTS

Government service contracts are large, complex, further action was taken, or the majority of identifiedand can span years. Because of this, sometimes costs were not recovered.4“unallowable expenses” - things not covered in the MISSING INFORMATIONcontract - mistakenly get paid by Uncle Sam. For this The IG noted that the IRS was unable to locatereason, the government employs auditors, such as the ANY of the 48 contract files associated with itsDefense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA), to review review. For 96 percent of cases in the IRS databasepayments and identify ones that should not have been used to track recoveries, critical information was missing.made. If a payment turns out to be improper, the This includes such basic info as: contract numbers,government agency that made it is supposed to recover correct recovery status, accurate contractor names, andthe money. contact info.5 Unfortunately, according to a recent report from Even when the IRS claims to have recovered lostthe Inspector General (IG) that oversees the IRS, taxpayer money, they have difficulty documenting thewhen DCAA notified the IRS of unallowable claim. The IRS says it recovered $1.4 million identifiedpayments over 10 years, only a miniscule amount by DCAA, but the IG could only find documentation ofwas recovered out of over $77 million, and the $545,000 (38%) actually being recovered.6agency scrutinizing your records was revealed to TAXPAYERS PAID TWICEhave less-than-stellar bookkeeping itself.1 Not only did the IRS not recover misspent taxpayer IGNORED AUDITS money, but they also paid for the audits. DCAA is part of Treasury’s internal guidance2 dictates that once a the Department of Defense (DOD) but has been allowedfinal audit of a contract is issued, unallowable expenses to make their services available to other agencies, whichshould typically be reconciled within six months. are then charged for the audits. The IRS paid DCAAHowever, DCAA reports are only advisory, and, “[t]he almost $5.7 million for the audits that in turn identifiedauthority and duty to act on these findings rests with the close to $77.6 million in recoverable, unallowableresponsible CO [Contracting Officer].”3 payments.7 As noted earlier, the IRS only claims to have recovered $1.4 million, 3/5th of which they could not The first step when an audit report is issued is for the substantiate. In other words, where the IRSCO to issue a “disposition memorandum” stating their potentially could have recovered $13.61 of everyagreement or disagreement with the audit findings. But dollar they invested in audits, they actually lost 75¢.in eight percent of cases, it seems even this basic step TAX AND SPENDwas not taken. Still, most COs did file a memo, and only As part of their review, the IG interviewed IRS COsin one instance the IG reviewed did the CO actually and found that “the organizational focus for the COs atdisagree with the finding of an unallowable payment. the IRS is to expeditiously make awards and obligate Unfortunately, agreeing with the audit is as far as funding, not to recover unallowable costs paid tomuch of the recovery effort went. In only one case did contractors.”8the IRS take action within six months of receiving a IS THIS THE SAME IRS WE ALL DEAL WITH ONDCAA report, and in 45 percent of the IG’s sampling, no TAX DAY?

A NEW PLACE TO PARK WASTE TAXPAYER MONEY

BUREAU OF INDIAN AFFAIRS CONSIDERS BUILDING CASINO PARKING LOT

It is an old problem. You are trying to get your associated with roads.”3 Even that seems like agamble on, and you cannot find a place to park. Well, stretch.maybe for some anyway. If this is a problem youface, and you like to gamble in Apache, OK, we have BIA classified this project under North Americansome good news for you. But if you are a regular Industry Classification Code “237310 – Highway,taxpayer, you probably will not like this. Street, and Bridge Construction.” While painting parking lot lines is covered under this code, it states The Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), as part of that “[c]onstructing parking lots, private driveways,the Buy Indian Act, is seeking to spend as much sidewalks, or erecting billboards – are classified inas $500,000 to construct a parking lot for the Industry NAICS 238990, All Other Specialty TradeGolden Eagle Casino in Apache, OK.1 Contractors.”4

PARKING LOTS NOT ALLOWED So, even if BIA were trying to use ambiguity in the It seems pretty crazy that the taxpayer is being Buy Indian Act regulation as justification, the projectasked to finance the construction of a parking lot for a is not even classified under the proper work code.casino, but the project itself might not evencomply with the BIA regulations the solicitation BAD BET CASINOcites. Even if such a project were allowed, this one sounds like a bad bet. The Golden Eagle Casino, The project is currently in the pre-solicitation where the parking lot is to be built, and a separatestage but is designated to be carried out under the casino owned by the same tribe have had somethingauthority of the Buy Indian Act. This act gives special of a tumultuous past.contracting authority to the BIA to bypass normalcontracting rules to give preference to Indian Both casinos closed in the summer of 2013Economic Enterprises – majority Native American- (apparently Golden Eagle has reopened), notowned businesses. It is supposed to be something of because of parking problems but amidst a powera win-win, building infrastructure on Native American struggle and allegations of corruption among triballands and employing Native American-owned leadership. One faction claimed the other wasbusinesses. stealing money from the casinos; the second faction questioned the legitimacy of the first’s authority.5 However, BIA’s own overview of the programspecifically notes that projects funded under this At least one Golden Eagle employee told localprogram can only be for “covered construction,” which news he witnessed a tribal member mishandlinginvolves roads on Native American-owned lands or to revenues.6Native American-owned lands.2 Parking lots and Who’s to say which side is right? One thing isfacilities are not mentioned and thus not eligible. for sure: this is probably not a venture Uncle Sam BIA may be resting on a kind of catch-all definition should be taking a bet on with taxpayer money.that includes “planning and other needs and facilities
3Ibid. 4https://classcodes.com/lookup/naics-code-237310/
5http://www.news9.com/story/22973073/ok-casino-closes-suddenly-leaving-workers-without-1https://www.fbo.gov/index?s=opportunity&mode=form&id=824581b0b155722ba8fa093e286 paychecks
084de&tab=core&_cview=0 6http://www.news9.com/story/22984829/another-apache-casino-shuts-down-employees-left-2http://farsite.hill.af.mil/reghtml/regs/other/diar/1480.htm#P32_2610 with-uncertainty
April 24, 2017

USDA’S RURAL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT PROJECT

USDA RURAL DEVELOPMENT MONEY BLOWN WAY OFF COURSE... TO GOLF IN ST. CROIX

When you think about rural businesses, one of the GRANTS, YES, BUT NOT LOANSlast things that would come to mind is a luxury golf In addition to issuing grants, the REAP program alsocourse on a Caribbean island, but that is exactly where makes loan guarantees.5 According to Solar Delivered,the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) sent nearly the company that designed Carambola’s “microgrid” solar$125k in rural development grant money last year. system, they also prepared the applications to USDA for both a grant and a government loan guarantee.6 That’s right!!! Your tax dollars went to supportthe purchase of solar panels for the Carambola It does not appear that Carambola received a loanGolf Club on St. Croix, USVI.1 guarantee. This may be because USDA general “Guaranteed Loanmaking” regulations expressly RURAL? prohibit guarantees for [g]olf courses and golf The Carambola solar project was partially financed course infrastructure…,” along with race tracks andunder the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP).2 casinos.7 Such prohibition is not restated in USDA’sTo qualify under this program (you know, as rural), a REAP regulations.business must meet one of two standards: So… why is it too risky or unwise to guarantee a • Minimum 50% of gross income comes from loan (which may never cost the taxpayer) for a golf agricultural operations, or course, but it is perfectly fine to give the same golf • It is located in a non-urbanized area of a city or course grant money? town with fewer than 50k residents.3 “WHY DOES USDA RURAL DEVELOPMENT We’ll assume Carambola (or any golf course) did not DO THIS?”qualify based on agricultural operations, but even by the USDA rhetorically asks this question of the REAPpopulation/urbanization standard, this is still a stretch. program in its promotional one-page flyer. The answer provided is not particularly convincing, especially with The Carambola golf course itself is the center of regard to why this is in the interest of agriculturala larger luxuries development, which includes a hotel producers: “This program helps increase Americanand “some one hundred homes… all within an energy independence… Over time, these investmentsexclusive gated community.”4 Not exactly life on the can also help lower the cost of energy….”8farm. Sure, everyone would like to save on their electric In fact, by this same standard, any number of ski bill, but that is not unique to rural business. And areresorts, amusement parks, and many more golf courses solar panels really an agricultural priority for taxpayers?all across America could qualify as rural for the purpose Probably not. Even if they were, solar powered golfof getting REAP grants - not really the kind of businesses courses in the Caribbean certainly do not fit the bill.the program is intended to help.

THE RENT IS TOO (DARN) HIGH

THE DEPT. OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT PAID OVER $3.1 MILLION MORE IN SECTON 8 RENT THAN COMPARABLE APARTMENTS IN THE SAME BUILDINGS

The guy sitting next to you on a plane paid $150 less object to a rent increase because they do not personallyfor his ticket, or your neighbor bought a lawn mower on pay any more, since the taxpayer does instead.sale…a week after you bought the same one at regularprice. Given this, at first glance, one might envision a greedy landlord bilking the government for every dollar he can It can be frustrating when you pay for something only get. However, the target of the IG’s investigation wasto find out other people got the same thing for a cheaper cooperatives properties (co-ops). In other words,price. Well, if you pay taxes, get ready to be frustrated!!! resident-owned buildings. According to the Inspector General (IG) for the In a co-op, “members” pay a maintenance fee (calledDepartment of Housing and Urban Development rent) that covers building operations, amenities, and(HUD), the federal government paid higher rent for upkeep and pays down any mortgage on the building -Section 8 housing than non-subsidized renters paid in similar to an HOA fee.5 Since these fees cover communalthe same buildings.1 costs, charging one group of renters a higher rent (like those with a government subsidy) allows others (non- How Much More? subsidized renters) to pay less while collectively all the According to the IG’s report, the total additional cost building costs are met.to the taxpayer of paying higher rent for Section 8units came out to over $3.1 million - just in 2016 - for By charging Section 8 tenants more, the non-the housing developments they sampled.2 However, subsidized tenants reap a benefit. As the IG put it (undersince their sample was only 28% of the potential number the header “Taxpayer-Funded Windfall”): “[B]y payingof developments where this could have occurred, the more in assistance and allowing non-Section 8taxpayer could be out as much as $10 million or more. households to pay less, HUD, and ultimately the taxpayer, is subsidizing the non-Section 8 At the low end, the difference in rent was as little as households.”6$2 a month, but amazingly, at the high end, the taxpayercould be forking over nearly $2,900 more for a Regulatory Oversightsubsidized unit than they would have paid for a Technically, current law and HUD regulations prohibitsimilar unit on the open market.3 renting a Section 8 unit for more than a comparable unit in the same area would rent for on the open market, but not Cooperating for Lower Rent specifically in the same building.7 The way Section 8 works is renters pay a percentage This is unique to co-ops, because public housingof their income toward the rent of their housing unit. The authorities and corporate or privately ownedgovernment picks up the difference between the tenants’ buildings cannot charge disparate rents.8 Somehowrent and the full rental cost of the unit. So if the unit rent in the course of establishing those rules, co-ops weregoes up, the taxpayer picks up the full increase.4 This overlooked, and it is costing you at least $3.1 millionalso creates a situation where Section 8 tenants might not a year.

YOU SAY TOMATO, I SAY WASTE

NSF’S $1.5 MILLION PROJECT TO IMPROVE HOW TOMATOES TASTE

Tomatoes: they put the “T” in BLT, are found on consumption is in “processed form”: sauces, ketchup,burgers, and make salsa what it is. They are in juice, etc. Further, over a quarter of all tomatoketchup, pizza sauce, soups, and more. In short, consumption occurs “away from home.”5tomatoes are all over the place. These facts seem to indicate there is a significant In fact, the average American consumes commercial interest in the tomato. So, one might askapproximately 31.4 pounds of tomatoes each year, why Uncle Sam is funding better tasting tomatoesmaking it the second most consumed vegetable1 in and not Heinz, Papa John’s, or Campbell’s.the United States after potatoes.2 The answer may be that their raw taste really So, given its versatility and popularity, one does not matter that much if the bulk of tomatoes arehas to wonder why the National Science enjoyed as part of more complex foods.Foundation spent over $1.5 million trying toimprove the taste of tomatoes.3 MAYBE IT’S ECONOMICS

Make no mistake, the research is about taste. In Certainly one could argue that making aNSF’s January press release, “Scientists develop vegetable taste better will improve its economicgenetic path to tastier tomatoes,” the director of the viability. NSF even said that “[b]reeding a moreDivision of Integrative Organismal Systems (where flavorful tomato could benefit consumers as well asthe funding came from) said, "This state-of-the-art the tomato industry.”6 One researcher on the projectanalysis sets the stage to return it to the taste of said, "We can make the supermarket tomato tastedecades ago by breeding informed by molecular noticeably better."7genetics."4 So, is the tomato industry hurting? As we have Apparently the research found that modern already noted, tomatoes are the second mosttomatoes are less tasty because they have less consumed vegetable in the U.S. The U.S. is thesugar and other flavorful chemicals. Wait … sugar second largest producer of raw tomatoes in thewill make something taste better? world, making it a $2 billion annual industry.8 If only they tasted better. IS THIS IN THE TAXPAYER’S INTEREST? STILL NO WORD ON MAKING According to the United States Department of BRUSSELS SPROUTS TASTE BETTERAgriculture (USDA), three fourths of American tomato

5
https://www.ers.usda.gov/topics/crops/vegetables-­‐1
Note:
Tomatoes
are
technically
a
fruit.
pulses/tomatoes.aspx
2 6
https://www.ers.usda.gov/data-­‐products/chart-­‐ https://www.nsf.gov/news/news_summ.jsp?cntn_id=19083gallery/gallery/chart-­‐detail/?chartId=58340
2
3 7 https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=15 https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/01/1701261439831&HistoricalAwards=false
2901.htm
4 8 https://www.nsf.gov/news/news_summ.jsp?cntn_id=19083 https://www.ers.usda.gov/topics/crops/vegetables-­‐2
pulses/tomatoes.aspx
December 7, 2017 DANCING WITH THE CARS THE NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS SPENDS TENS OF THOUSANDS IN TAXPAYER FUNDS TO SUPPORT CHOREOGRAPHED DANCES WITH VEHICLES AND MACHINERY Readers of The Waste Report may recall the April 18, utility poles. …” 4 This cost taxpayers $10,000 despite2016, edition, “Waste: A Documentary,” highlighting the $2 Forklift raising over $22,000 for the project on Kickstarter –million State Department program to send filmmakers 146 percent of its goal. 5 6around the world to discuss their projects. 1 One of the filmsnoted in that report was Trash Dance, which depicts Power UP was, as noted in the grant description, thesanitation workers dancing with their equipment. “third in a series of large-scale civic spectacles” and included “an original music score by Graham While the State Department is paying to showcase such Reynolds, accompanied by a string orchestra led by Austinperformances after the fact, the National Endowment forthe Arts (NEA) is actually using your tax money to help Symphony Conductor Peter Bay. ...” 7 8present or create them. In total, Forklift has received more than $100,000 from the federal government to do work with the City of Congestion in Austin Austin. 9 Of course, one might think the city would provide the funding itself if it thought the projects were One such project, which apparently needs $20,000 in so important. In fact, Forklift is not short of donors. Insupport from federal taxpayers for another presentation, is addition to individual private contributions, their websitecalled Traffic Jam and features “[a]rtists working with features several “Funding Agencies” and corporatelocal youth” to “choreograph automobiles, bicycles, “Season Sponsors,” such as Juniper Systems, IBC Bank,golf carts, and pedicabs to perform skilled movements and Alamo Drafthouse Cinema. 10 Not exactly the profilein a parking lot, making art inspired by Austin's traffic of starving artists in need of federal assistance.congestion.” 2 At least the latest Forklift project funded by the NEA A highlight video of Traffic Jam shows pedicabs driving does not involve the City of Austin. Thanks in part toin a circle with a trombone player riding and playing in the $20,000 in federal support, Forklift is producing Served.passenger seat, numerous parked cars honking their horns “Featuring the skilled movement of a group of campuswith their 4-way flashers on, and people playing music on employees, such as dishwashers, cooks, custodialbicycle spokes. 3 staff, physical plant employees, or grounds and Trash Dance, Part Deux maintenance crews,” according to the grant, Served “will highlight the work life of campus staff [at the University While you will be happy to know the Trash Dance of Houston and Wake Forest] as performed by theproject mentioned in the introduction was not funded with employees themselves.” 11taxpayer money, similar ventures by Forklift Danceworks Of course, there is no shame in praising and featuring(makers of Trash Dance) have received federal tax dollars. these workers, but taking their hard-earned tax money to One such project was Power UP, which “showcased help fund the project seems a little unfair.50+ linemen, electrical technicians and Austin Energyemployees in a choreographed full-length dance withcranes, bucket and field trucks,” as well as “a set of 20 4 5 http://www.forkliftdanceworks.org/projects/powerup/ https://apps.nea.gov/grantsearch/SearchResults.aspx, Grant #13-3300-7173 6 https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1140543784/forklifts-next-epic-production 7 https://apps.nea.gov/grantsearch/SearchResults.aspx, Grant #13-3300-7173 8 http://www.forkliftdanceworks.org/projects/powerup/1 9 https://www.hsgac.senate.gov/download/senator-rand-pauls-waste-report-film-diplomacy https://apps.nea.gov/grantsearch/SearchResults.aspx2 10 https://apps.nea.gov/grantsearch/SearchResults.aspx, Grant #17-5400-7133 http://www.forkliftdanceworks.org/3 11 https://vimeo.com/152757329 https://apps.nea.gov/grantsearch/SearchResults.aspx, Grant #17-5400-7202SELECTED EXCERPTS -REFORMATTED

An Oversight Report Series by

Member, Committee on Foreign Relations

PLAYING THE TAXPAYER LIKE A FIDDLE THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE SPENT $3,217,960+ ON MUSIC FESTIVALS AND CONCERTS ABROAD

Taxpayers may not understand the frequency and cost of their support for music programs. With numerous performances around the world, the State Department actually uses millions of dollars to facilitate concerts and musical acts – something for which American taxpayers themselves receive essentially no benefit. Here are some examples of how American tax dollars have been used to put on shows and concerts in recent years:

• $130,159 in combined support for the Istanbul Jazz Festival

in Turkey;1 • $50,000 to cover honoraria for musicians of the musical show FELA to perform in Moscow; 2 • $239,397 to support the Afghanistan National Institute of Music Programs in Afghanistan; 3 • $75,794 for travel to Pakistan as part of a hip hop music program; 4 • $40,356 to the Sabreen Association for Artistic Development to bring four American country artists to perform for Palestinian audiences over four days in East Jerusalem; 5 • $600,000 for collaborative music writing and recording between Indian and Pakistani musicians; 6 • $224,500 to organize the Festival of Traditional American music in several cities in Russia; 7 • $20,000 in printing and promotional material for the Skopje Jazz Festival in Macedonia; 8 (Sabreen Assocation for Artistic Development Facebook Page) • $24,970 to organize the concert tour of the Melvin Taylor Blues Band in Ukraine; 9 • $50,000 to facilitate a visit to the Julliard School for the artistic director of a Brazilian choir. 10

Following a 2014 climate reduction agreement first place given that there is already a U.S. between the two countries, the U.S. hosted Embassy full of staff in Beijing. Chinese officials and mayors for a summit with Identifying how taxpayers supported broader their American counterparts in Los Angeles in Chinese climate initiatives through this grant September of 2015. The summit, which included requires peeling back several layers. In short, a VIP dinner at Warner Bros and a sustainable USAID awarded $2.5 million to a U.S.-based lunch with Hollywood director James Cameron, 1 grantee to “provide four cities in China with featured the signing of a Declaration between access to the skills, tools and support they need communities in both the U.S. and China to to implement effective plans for large-scale address climate change. 2 The two sides also greenhouse gas reductions.” 4 This assistance on participated in a second climate change summit behalf of China was done through support to the in Beijing in June 2016, with taxpayers covering National Center for Climate Change Strategy and International Cooperation, which is the climate change arm of China’s National Development and Reform Commission, which itself controls much of the central planning of China’s economy. In response to FSO subcommittee questions on the project, USAID stressed that no funds were provided to the Chinese government. Yet that seems like a distinction without a difference for taxpayers, as funds were nonetheless used to facilitate the signing of the agreement itself, then once again to implement the agreement after it “Climate Summit Leaders after signing the 2015 was signed. declaration” (ccwgsmartcities.lbl.gov/declaration) From a taxpayer’s standpoint, even providing travel expenses and related costs for American advice to China’s government on climate change officials to travel to China for the signing of a is a dubious use of funds — especially when memorandum of understanding (MOU). 3 It is not those funds are borrowed (in part) from China in clear why the very act of making climate the first place. In the future, China should pay commitments with China—simply signing an for its own climate change strategies without MOU—requires repeated travel expenses in the financial assistance from American taxpayers.

1 http://www.lamayor.org/sites/g/files/wph446/f/page/image/US-China_Climate_Leaders_Summit_2015_-_Agenda.pdf2 https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2015/09/15/fact-sheet-us-%E2%80%93-china-climate-leaders-summit3 USAID response to FSO inquiry4 USAID response to FSO inquiry HIGHWAY ROBBERY THE U.S. AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT (USAID) SPENT $255,300,000 ON CONSTRUCTION, MAINTENANCE, AND SECURITY FOR A 63-MILE HIGHWAY

In December 2016, after years of overruns Highway. 7 With Afghanistan seemingly unable to and more than $100 million over budget, USAID provide the maintenance necessary to make this completed and Afghanistan inaugurated the and many other roads last, USAID announced in Gardez-Khost Highway, a 63-mile road 2014 that they were making a three-year, $22.3 connecting the two cities in Eastern Afghanistan million commitment to supporting Afghanistan’s near the Pakistan border—part of an American Ministry of Public Works in maintaining Afghan effort to link the rural regions to Afghanistan’s roads. 8 Yet the concern for whether any of these central government in Kabul. 1 The highway was expensive projects will survive without the U.S. funded by American taxpayers at a cost of $233 and others paying for maintenance is something million, or more than $3.6 million per mile. 2 Yet that may not sit well with taxpayers. the final total does not capture the full story of the highway’s construction, which started in 2008 at an initial budget of $69 million. 3 A New York Times analysis of the project found that tens of millions of dollars went toward security rather than construction, and that subcontractors relied on a mysterious Afghan figure named “Mr. Arafat” for security at a cost of $1 million per year. 4 The same report found that some American officials came to suspect that Mr. Arafat was staging attacks to blackmail for more money, and that payoffs he made to insurgents in the area were being funneled to the terrorist Gardez-Khost Highway under construction (USAID) Haqqani network. 5 Security contractors, meanwhile, would seemingly only show up for pay day, though on paper they were working every day. 6 Notably, USAID abandoned new road projects in Afghanistan in 2012 after determining that Afghanistan’s government did not have adequate maintenance capacity, though this decision did not impact construction of the Gardez-Khost1 http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/01/world/asia/01road.html?_r=02 https://www.sigar.mil/pdf/quarterlyreports/2016-01-30qr.pdf AID-267-C-12-000023 Ibid.4 Ibid. 7https://www.sigar.mil/pdf/special%20projects/SIGAR-14-64-SP.pdf5 Ibid. 8https://www.usaid.gov/afghanistan/news-information/press-releases/ministry-public-works-223-6 Ibid. million-road-maintenance CAN YOU TELL ME HOW TO GET, HOW TO GET TO INSOLVENCY? THE U.S. AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT (USAID) SPENT $14,833,312 ON FOREIGN VERSIONS OF SESAME STREET

Countless American children have grown up watching Sesame Street, and now as adult taxpayers they are (perhaps unknowingly) funding many foreign versions of Sesame Street around the world. USAID has spent at least $14 million since 2011 to bring local versions of Sesame Street into global homes to teach kids about the world — consistent with USAID priorities, which include things like “climate change awareness.” 1  $5,400,827 since 2011 on Sisimpur Bangla airing in Bangladesh; 2  $3,700,000 since 2011 on Sesame Square airing in Nigeria; 3  $1,339,090 since 2011 on Takalani Sesame airing in South Africa and some neighboring countries; 4  $72,783 in 2011 to study the feasibility of airing a localized Sesame Street in Kenya;5  $687,088 since 2011 on Jalan Sesama airing in Indonesia; 6  $3,633,524 in State Department since 2012 on Baghch-e-Simsim airing in Afghanistan. 7

According to IAF, one in four Argentine youths revenue? The 2012 grant was the fourth is unemployed. IAF sought to address this youth supplemental grant CSS received from the U.S. unemployment by running off to the circus. In taxpayer. While data shows that CSS received 2008, IAF funded Circo Social del Sur (CSS) to “use circus arts to teach other skills to children, teenagers and young adults in poor neighborhoods in Buenos Aires.”1 IAF and CSS apparently believe that training youth in aerial acrobatics, trapeze gymnastics and dance will help students master communication and decision-making skills. 2 CSS offers students six free (to them) classes in the circus arts, which culminate in student performances. The most talented students receive advanced training so they can become trainers themselves and, of course, pursue careers in the circus. 3 As part of their grant, CSS hoped to bring in additional revenue with Taxpayer-funded clowns perform in the Argentina circus project (CSS) showcase performances featuring their best students. 4 Does it sound a little like Uncle Sam $35,320 in 2010, specifics are not available on is just funding an Argentinian circus? the other two grants, as IAF does not report If it all seems like a lofty aspiration, it is. In grants (made with taxpayer money) that are worth fact, the grantee’s plan to bring in more revenue less than $10,000. seems to have fallen short. In 2012, IAF gave CSS another $106,125 to “organize new performances and a second circus troupe made up of its advanced students and will diversify its sources of income with the goal of becoming more self-sufficient [emphasis added].” 5 The obvious question: If CSS was successful with their initial grant, why are they not generating1 IAF AR-352 (Award by County 2008) http://www.iaf.gov/resources/publications/annual-reports/2008/awards-by-country2 Ibid.3 Ibid.4 Ibid.5 http://www.iaf.gov/our-work/grant-making/grants-by-year/2012-grants/argentina CAUTION!!! WASTE SAFELY THE U.S. AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT (USAID) SPENT $1,780,778 ENCOURAGING HELMET USE ON MOTORCYCLES IN CAMBODIA

Motorcycle helmet laws in the United States are a patchwork

from state to state.1 In Cambodia, meanwhile, motorcycle drivers are required to wear helmets, but passengers were not prior to a recent change in the law. 2 3 In support of motorcycle helmets in Cambodia, USAID, as well as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), partnered with the Asia Injury Prevention Foundation (AIP) to support the “Head Safe, Helmet On” program. One way that the “Head Safe, Helmet On” program sought to achieve increased helmet use: giving away motorcycle helmets.4 In 2014, prior to the change in Cambodia’s helmet law, AIP launched the program with a helmet handover ceremony, providing over 6,600 motorcycle helmets to Cambodian young people. 5 As Cambodia moved toward implementing its new helmet law, which requires passengers and children to wear helmets, the program shifted into public awareness—most notably through a TV and radio campaign reinforcing helmet use, produced by AIP and funded in part by American taxpayers. 6 The TV public service announcement 7 features a family riding a motorcycle — with only the driver wearing a helmet — that find themselves accosted by Stills from the taxpayer-funded PSA promoting the ghosts of other motorcyclists who died because they did not motorcycle helmet use in Cambodia (with English wear helmets. The ghosts remind them about Cambodia’s new subtitles) (YouTube) helmet law and give helmets to the passengers. The Cambodia Daily reported that, in response to the new law, many Cambodians are simply buying the cheapest helmets they can find. 8 These cheap helmets are “like not wearing a helmet at all[.]” 9 The same article also quotes a representative of AIP — an entity that pushed for the new law — observing the lack of a helmet testing lab in Cambodia, with the cost for constructing a new lab estimated at $500,000 to $700,000. 10 Taxpayers back in America will therefore have to guard against continued follow-on costs in support of this foreign motorcycle helmet law they already paid to promote.1 http://www.iihs.org/iihs/topics/laws/helmetuse/helmethistory2 http://www.fiafoundation.org/media/44027/aipf-usaid-infographic.jpg3 https://issuu.com/aipfoundation/docs/annual_report_20154 Ibid.5 http://www.fiafoundation.org/blog/2014/december/usaid-partnership-launched-with-6000-helmets-donation6 https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/in-bid-to-increase-helmet-use-campaign-focuses-on-fines-98073/7 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WzocIAlGWz48 https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/cheap-helmets-make-new-safety-rules-futile-100055/9 Ibid.10 Ibid. SIRI, FIND WASTE… “YOU MEAN KENYAN FARMER FACEBOOK TRAINING?” THE U.S. AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT (USAID) SPENT $99,787 TO TEACH KENYAN FARMERS HOW TO USE GOOGLE & FACEBOOK ON THEIR SMARTPHONES

Farmers in Kenya could harness the power of

mobile devices to improve their crops, but they suffer from “device illiteracy,” with many lacking the ability “...to perform the basic handset operations needed to take advantage of these services.” 1 At least, this was the premise behind the Simu Shape Up: Edutainment to Shape Up Cell Phone use Among African Rural Farmers program, a USAID-funded effort to improve cell phone literacy among rural farmers in Kenya. 2 Using this “edutainment” model, this project developed “educational short programming... to share the benefits of mobile programming for agriculture.” 3 The project produced segments to air on the Shamba Shape Up television show, a reality- format show airing on Citizen TV Kenya. According to a 2013 feature in Modern Farmer, the Shamba Shape Up program is wildly popular In addition to instruction on buying data and reinforcing the need for a smartphone to browse the internet, one segment also includes across Africa, where the hosts visit farms across instruction on how to use Google and log on to Facebook Kenya on the brink of collapse and offer advice on (Shamba Shape Up YouTube) how to save them, or to solve problems that phone literacy among Kenyan farmers. It turns out confront them 4 — a familiar construct for reality that farmers can send a text message to Shamba television. The segments associated with this Shape Up to request a free brochure on any of the U.S. taxpayer-assisted project aired as part of topics discussed by the show, with four to six episodes on June 19, September 11, and thousand brochures requested each week as of September 18, 2015. 5 2013. 6 Interestingly, the Modern Farmer feature notes In other words, farmers were already that the creators of the Shamba Shape Up harnessing text messages and mobile technology program were already using text messages as a to help their farms, with the pace of progress likely tool to interact with farmers — and at least a year only increasing their numbers. American before USAID funded a program to improve cell taxpayers, meanwhile, receive little to no benefit from producing television infomercials telling http://cas.msu.edu/researchers-working-to-improve-livelihoods-of-farmers-in-kenya/ foreign audiences how to Google.12 https://www.usaid.gov/div/portfolio3 Ibid.4 http://modernfarmer.com/2013/07/shamba-shape-up/5 http://pdf.usaid.gov/pdf_docs/PA00KQKH.pdf 6 Ibid. WHILE THE WEST BURNS… THE EAST (AS IN RUSSIA) GETS FOREST FUNDS THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE’S U.S. FOREST SERVICE (USFS) SPENT $177,300 TO SUPPORT ECOTOURISM TO LAKE BAIKAL IN RUSSIA

Between annexing Crimea, supporting During the duration of the USFS’ work with separatists in eastern Ukraine, and saber-rattling the Lake Baikal Heritage Foundation and the across Eastern Europe and the Middle East, Great Baikal Trail Association, American Russia’s relationship with the West has chilled taxpayers have played a role in “capacity building considerably under Vladimir Putin’s presidency. in the areas of trails building and maintenance Given this reality, any assistance committed by and nature interpretation programs.” 4 This has the U.S. government inside Russia would have to included training for park officials, nature guides, be studied very carefully. This makes the and others, as well as providing “engaging and decision made by the U.S. Department of motivational interpretive messages for park Agriculture’s U.S. Forest Service to fund visitors.”5 ecotourism efforts for Lake Baikal in Russia It is time to reassess whether USFS’ concerning. international operations are truly necessary; Many Americans may think of the USFS as an whether the costs are justified given domestic exclusively domestic agency, maintaining national needs, including billions in deferred maintenance forests and grasslands, but that is not the case. for America’s forests and additional costs for USFS actually supports various projects around fighting wildfires here at home. Taxpayers should the world and, in other instances, operates in ask whether “...improving the visitor experience” 6 cooperation with other agencies such as USAID. to a Russian park deserves to be anywhere near Yet at a time when USFS cites budget challenges the top of the priority list for USFS right now. and the cost of fighting wildfires here in the United States, 1 they have steadily provided Lake Baikal eco-tourism and education grants as part of an effort to help sustain Russia’s Lake Baikal since 2013. 2 In fact, USFS reported a maintenance backlog of $5.1 billion in 2014 3 while funding programs like this to help forests and parks in other countries. To undertake projects such as this one while carrying such a considerable maintenance backlog shows horrible prioritization by the USFS, to say the least.

1http://www.fs.fed.us/sites/default/files/2015-Fire-Budget-Report.pdf2Ibid. 4 http://www.fs.fed.us/about-agency/international-programs/where-we-work/russia-europe3http://www.crs.gov/Reports/R43997?source=search&guid=be9c672c92b34f15979fbd390b87c05 5 Ibid.8&index=0 6 Ibid. NOT APPEASING THE TAXPAYERS THE U.S. AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT (USAID) SPENT $1,946,000 TO SUPPORT A PAGAN BED & BREAKFAST IN BELARUS IN THE NAME OF AGROECOTOURISM As USAID moves into more expansive tourism promotion, it has also pushed the boundaries of comprehensible tourism branding. In Belarus, this effort did not stop at simply tourism. In that country, USAID has pushed not just for tourism, and not just for eco-tourism, but for agro-eco- tourism. 1 At this rate, tourism projects may one day combine other government-driven, possibly- invented concepts to become sustainable-green- agro-eco-adventure tourism. Nevertheless, U.S. taxpayers are almost $2 million deep in helping attract the doubtlessly lucrative agro-eco-tourist segment to Belarus to enjoy the many natural wonders it offers as part of an economic development program. USAID has also funded programs to assist first-time bed and breakfast (B&B) owners and to develop a “greenways” approach for developing land along tourist routes. One B&B that took advantage of the greenways plan was featured on a USAID Belarus page, on which the owner thanked USAID for the assistance her business received and for the pleasure of hosting tourists from the U.S. and Europe.2 Oddly, though, USAID made the decision to include a Picture taken from a page hosted at USAID.gov, promoting rural tourism in Belarus by featuring tourist participation in rituals to the harvest god. Information picture of the same B&B owner leading tourists in a on the fate of the goat (pictured) was not available.

rite to appease a field and harvest god on the

same web page. To be clear, this was not posted put on a government website. But this being the on social media, but hosted on a .gov government federal government, it apparently did not make the domain site. list at all. Taxpayers, then, should take this One would think that common sense dictates opportunity to remind agencies like USAID that that promotion of a pagan ceremony possibly they are wasting precious tax dollars on trendy involving goat sacrifice — simulated or otherwise tourism amalgamations like this sustainable-green- — would land quite high on the list of things not to eco-pagan tourism initiative.

economy-belarus INFLUENCING THE MEDIA CLIMATE THE U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT SPENT $33,500 TO TRAIN TURKISH MEDIA TO CARE ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES

In recent years, Turkey has been subject to for policies or political causes. Shame on the many crises, such as the erosion of democracy State Department, and shame on those and the rule of law, attempted military coup government employees who are responsible for d’états, the threat from terrorism (such as the approving this grant. terror attacks on Istanbul’s airport), the civil war next door in Syria, and Iranian expansionism in the region. The Turkish people have quite enough on their plates. But the U.S. Department of State tried to add one more topic to the worry list of the Turkish people: the environment; and they tried to do so with your tax dollars. This small grant was awarded in 2015 by the Department of State with the goal of “...creat[ing] awareness and interest towards environmental concerns, problems and` sustainability issues through comprehensive trainings, targeting Turkish journalists and media companies.” 1 Simply put, it is not the concern of the American taxpayer, nor should it be the concern of their government, if Turkish journalists do not write about the environment enough, or did so in a manner that did not satisfy the former administration’s zeal, or that of the employees responsible for issuing and approving this grant, for anything green. Taxpayers should be wary of these types of foreign climate propaganda campaigns to sway foreign populations in favor of politically-preferred green policies-- particularly when it is so direct as to “create awareness and interest...”2 among journalists in a foreign country. The job of a free and independent press is to inform the public of the facts, not to be the mouthpiece of or advocate

1 State Department response to FSO inquiry

2 Ibid. WATCH YOUR TAX DOLLARS FLY AWAY THE U.S. AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT (USAID) SPENT $95,000 ON A NATIONAL BIRD-WATCHING STRATEGY FOR HONDURAS An initiative of USAID, ProParque, is aimed at promoting economic growth (primarily through tourism and forestry) for small and medium enterprises in rural Honduras, as well as promoting environmental conservation and climate change adaptation. 1 One component of ProParque was the composition of a 56- page, five-year Honduran national bird-watching strategy.2 USAID estimates the bird-watching strategy and the training of three dozen birding guides carried a cost of $95,000. 3 Yet the program’s price tag does not reflect the birding strategy’s apparent importance to Honduras, as their President, Juan Orlando The President of Honduras receives the national bird-watching strategy (El Heraldo) Hernandez, made a splash with the unveiling of the birding strategy at a press conference. 4 According to accounts at the unveiling, the president asked the U.S. Ambassador to Honduras (also in attendance) to tweet about the emerald hummingbird to entice Americans to visit Honduras. 5 This waste is yet another example of the components of the federal government not being in concert with one another. The State Department has a travel warning for Honduras due to “notably high crime and violence rates,” dating to 2012. 6 According to the Department, Honduras has had one of the highest murder rates in the world since 2010 and a murder rate above 60 per 100,000 people since 2011. 7 It is important to note that Honduras follows the pattern for high-violence countries, in that “most resort areas and tourist destinations have lower levels of crime and violence than other areas of the country, though [crime rates in resort areas and tourist destinations are] still high by international standards.” 8

aviturismo-de-honduras-2016-20215 Ibid.6 https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories/honduras-travel-warning.html7 https://www.osac.gov/pages/ContentReportDetails.aspx?cid=211678 Ibid. GREEN HEROES OF INDIA THE U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT SPENT $185,000 IN INDIA ON THE GREEN HEROES FILM FESTIVAL AND MAKING VIRAL VIDEOS ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE

In May of 2016, the U.S. Consulate General in grant seeks the opposite approach. To create Mumbai announced a grant opportunity for a these viral videos, American taxpayers will be program to tell the stories of India’s “unsung responsible for funding a focus group to identify Green Heroes” through film workshops and a the environmental issues of most concern to the festival. 1 The grant will help documentary public, creating storyboards based on focus filmmakers tell these “environmental stories” with group feedback, and having the grantee work the goal of generating support for efforts to with the local director to make 2-3 minute videos. 7 combat climate change. 2 According to the grant The videos will then be debuted at a “launch opportunity, the ideal workshop participants are event” in Hyderabad for “approximately 200 “university students, activists, film school contacts from state government, educational students, and documentary filmmakers [emphasis institutions, civil society organizations and media added],” with every workshop participant being to highlight the first videos.” 8 “...required to submit a film for the ‘Green Heroes It is clearly time to reassess whether these Film Fest.’”3 As is the case with many film kinds of projects are the best use of taxpayer festivals, there was a competitive component. dollars. For what were the filmmakers who entered into the Green Heroes Film competing? Cash prizes. The winner of the festival won 50,000 rupees ($777 USD). There were also prizes for the runners up: second place received 30,000 rupees ($466) and the third placed film earned 20,000 rupees ($310). 4 Not to be outdone by its Mumbai counterpart, in July of 2016 the U.S. Consulate General in Hyderabad announced a $95,000 grant opportunity for a project to create “viral videos on climate change.” 5 The grant opportunity seeks to put a grantee into collaboration with “a local film director to create a series of short videos on various aspects of environment and climate change.” 6 Of course, many viral videos go viral precisely because of their spontaneity, but this

The Generation Initiative, launched in 2015, is In fact, the Generation Initiative’s Generation “aimed at closing the skill gaps and improving the Mexico Cashier Program promotional video employment prospects for the most populous features the Vice President of Strategic Planning generation in history,” 1 with programs in five for Walmart Mexico lauding the direction of the selected countries: Mexico, Kenya, India, Spain, program given the “significant cost” to “attract, and the United States. The overall goal of the train, and develop talent.”9 Fortunately for them, Initiative is to put one million young people into Walmart Mexico did not need to dip into its jobs by 2020 2 with a focus on job training and profits, in excess of 10 billion pesos placement into jobs that already exist. While the ($534,430,000 USD) in fiscal year 2016, for the Generation Initiative receives support from its typical business expense of identifying and parent organization and other private sources, training a workforce. 10 USAID graciously stepped USAID has also joined as a “founding funder,” 3 in to absorb a portion of that “significant cost” with bringing American taxpayer money to the table in taxpayer dollars-- yet another instance in which support of salesperson jobs in Kenya, 4 entry-level the federal government has used American health care jobs in India, 5 and retail jobs in taxpayer dollars to replace private investment in a Mexico. 6 The program is expected to run through foreign market. 2019 with a total contribution of $15 million from USAID during that period. 7 One of Generation Initiative’s founding funders, Walmart, (a donor to the Initiative’s United States retail training project 8) would appear to be one beneficiary of USAID’s taxpayer-supported portfolio of programs located in Mexico. This particular component of USAID’s Mexican retail job training program costs $899,505 and allows Walmart Mexico to draw from a better-trained pool of job seekers, all while passing some of the costs for that job training onto the American taxpayer.

pathways-for-us-retail-workers (accessible as of 9/22/2016) 164855910

LIGHTS, CAMERA, WASTE THE U.S. AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT (USAID) SPENT $1,003,000 ON DEVELOPMENT OF A NEPALESE TELEVISION PROGRAM

Binge-watching episode after episode of a television series has never been easier with the emergence of online streaming services like Netflix, Amazon Prime and Hulu. Subscribers to these services in search of political dramas can stream programs like Scandal and The Americans, or old episodes of the The West Wing (to name a few). Most likely, though, most would-be binge-watchers have not heard of another show, Singha Durbar, roughly meaning “The Lion’s Palace” — also called Madam Prime Minister. Funded with $1 million from USAID, Madam Prime Minister is a show airing in Nepal and available on YouTube depicting a democratic government that is “...inclusive [and] transparent...”1 The contractor for the project described the show in a press (YouTube) release announcing the show’s launch thusly: “Madam Prime Minister stars veteran film actress Gauri Malla as Nepal’s first female Prime Minister. Directed by (Youtube) Tsering Rhiter Sherpa, the show focuses on the challenges the she [sic] faces in her quest to establish a governance system of transparency, accountability, and collaborative leadership in a post-constitution Nepal. Depicting the inner workings of the central government, the 13-episode political drama cherishes women’s leadership in a historic moment for Nepal, right after the election of both its first female Speaker of the House and President.” 2

The good news for fans of the show — and particularly for those behind the production — is that Madam Prime Minister Madam Prime Minister is seeking up to four drama writers, a lead drama has been renewed for a second season following season writer, and up to two dialogue writers for work on Season Two of the taxpayer-backed Nepalese television program one’s 13-episode run. In fact, the show’s Facebook page has (Singha Durbar Facebook) already been looking to make new taxpayer-funded hires to start rolling with production.

1 Information provided by USAID in response to FSO inquiry

2 https://www.sfcg.org/madam-prime-minister-launches-in-nepal/ MILKING THE AMERICAN TAXPAYER THE U.S. AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT (USAID) SPENT $21,018,293 ON DAIRY FARM UPGRADES AND MOTORBIKE GIVEAWAYS IN PAKISTAN

The American dairy farmer is struggling under an increase in the global dairy supply, leading to lower milk prices and greater competition. 1 In fact, the number of American dairy farms has been in sharp decline since the 1970s. 2 According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, there were 648,000 dairy farms in 1970 compared to just 75,000 in 2006. 3 In that same period, the number of total dairy cows fell from 12 million to 9.1 million. 4 The legacy of these forces has put economic pressure on everyone from farmers to equipment dealers to veterinarians. 5 Meanwhile, American dairy farmers’ government is hard at work putting millions of dollars towards helping over 39,000 Pakistani dairy farmers in that country upgrade their facilities, teaching best practices, or training rural youth to become Artificial Insemination Technicians (AITs). 6

Photos from the April 2016 handover ceremony and the motorbikes awarded by American taxpayers to increase the conception rates of dairy cows in Pakistan (facebook.com/USAIDairyProject)

In support of these goals, motorbikes were given away at taxpayer expense to help AITs travel around the Pakistani countryside more quickly to assist with breeding services as well as to “increase the number and range of services they [AITs] can perform,”7 according to USAID. Information on the dairy program provided by USAID indicates that 2,033 motorbikes have been distributed to AITs in Pakistan at a total cost of $1.2 million, with approximately 132 additional motorbikes expected to be awarded over the duration of the project. 8

1 Dougherty, Carter; US Farm Economy: How Globalization Soured Milk Market for American Dairy Farmers; International Business Times, September 29, 2015. Accessed at http://www.ibtimes.com/us-

Economic Research Service. ERR-47, September 2007.

3 https://www.ers.usda.gov/webdocs/publications/45868/17034_err47b_1_.pdf?v=417464 https://www.ers.usda.gov/webdocs/publications/45868/17034_err47b_1_.pdf?v=417465 Ibid.6 USAID Dairy Project information page; USAID Pakistan; Accessed at http://www.dairyproject.org.pk/themes/html/page.php?id=147 Program data provided to FSO subcommittee by USAID8 Program data provided to FSO subcommittee by USAID PUTTING YOUR TAX DOLLARS TO WORK… FOR MOROCCANS THE U.S. AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT (USAID) SPENT $23,840,000 TO HELP MOROCCAN COLLEGE GRADUATES FIND JOBS

Today, American college graduates are hitting In 2016, USAID awarded a $23.8 million the job market against strong headwinds. contract to begin Career Development Activity in Challenges such as a lack of job openings, Morocco. Noting in its rationale, that “university underemployment, and student loan debt can and vocational graduates are struggling to find make it difficult to enter the job market and start a employment commensurate with their career. One study found that 49 percent of 2013 qualifications,” USAID is supporting a project to and 2014 college graduates consider themselves focus on “increas[ing] access to quality underemployed or in a job that does not require a employability services in Morocco for university college degree. 1 Another survey found that 65 and vocational school students and recent percent of American parents expect to support graduates”. 5 Assuredly, that predicament sounds their college graduate children for up to five years familiar to the nearly 10 percent of college after graduation. 2 In 2016, a study found 9.7 graduates neither working nor in school. percent, nearly 1 in every 10, of recent college graduates have ‘idled,’ being neither employed Meanwhile, American college graduates are nor enrolled in an educational institution (up from forced to brew lattes at a coffee shop or drive for 8.4 percent in 2007). 3 According to the Pew rideshare services in order to keep up with their Research Center, 2014 marked the first time in student loan payments. Undoubtedly, they will be more than 130 years that Americans aged 18-34 glad to know their government used their tax were more likely to be living in their parents’ dollars to help find a degree-appropriate career home than they were to be living in any other for a Moroccan college graduate. living situation. 4 But rest assured the federal government is doing something to confront these problems. It is putting tens of millions of dollars toward addressing skill shortages and connecting students to jobs — except the bad news for American college graduates is that this multi- million dollar program is actually located in Morocco, and the beneficiaries are Moroccan college students.

1 Accenture Strategy; Insights from the Accenture Strategy 2015 U.S. College GraduateEmployment Study. Accessed at https://www.accenture.com/us-en/insight-2015-accenture-college-graduate-employment-research2 Ashford, Kate; Parents: Your College Grads Expect You to Support Them Post-College.

edges-out-other-living-arrangements-for-18-to-34-year-olds/ 5 AID608C150004 IF YOU LIKE YOUR DOCTOR… THE U.S. AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT (USAID) SPENT NEARLY $20 MILLION EXPANDING HEALTH INSURANCE AND EASING MEDICAL DEBT IN CAMBODIA

Access to health care and the expense of their medical bills in the previous year; and of health insurance have been and remain hot- those 20 percent, 63 percent claim to have used button issues in the United States. Many up all or most of their savings on health Americans continue to feel the adverse effects of expenses, while roughly 40 percent took on an Obamacare and watch anxiously as their medical extra job to cover costs.3 American taxpayers costs skyrocket. Yet as many Americans fret may be disheartened to learn, then, that their tax about whether they can afford their ever- dollars help Cambodians stay out of medical debt increasing premiums for their plans under while they drown in debt of their own— or live in Obamacare, the federal government uses their fear that they might one day be bankrupted by tax dollars to improve health insurance access medical debt. and medical care abroad. The need for medical care exists in varying For example, USAID has twice devoted forms around the world, and the federal millions of dollars to bolstering health insurance government should not go abroad under the programs in Cambodia. In 2016, it put over $9 assumption that the U.S. is any different. million towards bolstering a World Bank low- American taxpayers clearly deserve better income health insurance program in Cambodia. prioritization and a greater understanding from A USAID website for the program notes a “...large their government of the health care situation in portion of [Cambodia] that is vulnerable to health their own backyard. Congress should push for shocks... that could force families to borrow programs that reform and improve American money at higher rates, sell their assets and push health marketplaces, and spend less time taking them deeper into poverty.”1 The same site money from debt-saddled Americans to ease the reports that, as a result of efforts to expand health medical debt of foreign populations. coverage, “fewer households [in Cambodia] are falling into debt to pay for health care.” It then returned the next year and in November 2017 devoted $10 million to “ensure that Cambodians seek and receive quality health care with decreased financial hardship through more sustainable systems.”2 Yet medical debt is hardly a problem confined to Cambodia. In 2016, The New York Times reported that 20 percent of Americans under the age of 65 with health insurance struggled to pay

1 https://www.usaid.gov/news-information/frontlines/extreme-poverty/lifting-some-cambodias-poorest-out-of-poverty-health-insurance 3https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/personalfinance/2017/05/05/this-is-the-no-1-reason-2 Funding opportunity number 72044218RFA00003 americans-file-for-bankruptcy/101148136/ NEW TREND IN TOURISM…WASTE THE U.S. AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT (USAID) AND U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT SPENT $98,000,000 TO SUPPORT JORDAN’S TOURISM SECTOR Jordan has been and remains a friend in a region where the United States has few. Amidst regional instability, a flood of refugees, a civil war in Syria and the threat of ISIS terrorists across its border, the U.S. has pledged at least $1.275 billion in bilateral assistance to Jordan in 2016. 1 Yet despite the many security demands in the region and the escalating costs to American taxpayers, the United States also remains a steadfast supporter of Jordan’s tourism sector. Since 2005, USAID has poured tens of millions of taxpayer dollars into efforts including improved management at the Wadi Rum Nature Reserve; hygienic food-handling instruction; improved customer service at tourism establishments; developing “...parades [and] festivals”; tourism promotion and marketing; and streamlining diploma programs in tourism and Entries in the National Tourism Awareness Painting Competition hospitality. 2 (USAID-Siyaha) Jordanian students were also awarded taxpayer- region undermine tourist confidence. The U.S. State funded scholarships to study hospitality at the Jordan Department’s own travel advice for U.S. citizens notes Hotel School. 3 The National Tourism Awareness (among other things) that the U.S. Embassy in Amman Painting Competition was started to help students learn had to be closed for ten days in 2013 due to security about the impact of tourism on their country’s economy. 4 threats, that ISIS and al-Nusra pose a threat, and that the American taxpayers funded a public awareness “potential for terrorist activity was heightened as Jordan campaign to distribute 10,000 flyers and brochures took an active role in the coalition against [ISIS].” 9 throughout Jordan making Jordanians more aware of the American taxpayers might wonder if now is the time role of tourism in their economy. 5 6 A marketing campaign to put precious resources toward tourism to Jordan, given targeted Virtuoso travel agents to emphasize the luxury that any “strategic communication” marketing campaign travel potential of Jordan. 7 The Jordan Trail will be would face significant resistance from tourists anxious sustained by a USAID grant to make Jordan an about the security situation. With the defeat of ISIS a adventure tourism destination for hikers 8 (as USAID high priority for both the U.S. and Jordan, would money apparently believes the world has too few adventure be better used toward that end? Or simply saved for the tourism destinations). taxpayers? Instead, taxpayers are ponying up more and Despite these efforts over the past decade, tourism in more money to plug the leak in Jordan’s sinking tourism Jordan is hitting hard times as threats to security in the sector. In fact, USAID has only recently started the Building Economic Stability Through Tourism (BEST)1 https://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/mideast/RL33546.pdf program, a new commitment of $36 million over five2 http://www.siyaha.org/about/overview3 http://www.siyaha.org/nl/newsletterissue/articles.php?issue=49&id=233 years to support Jordan’s tourism sector. 104 http://www.siyaha.org/nl/newsletterissue/articles.php?issue=49&id=2345 http://www.siyaha.org/sites/default/files/rfp_files/RFQ%2083%20General%20public%20flyers.pdf6 http://www.siyaha.org/nl/newsletterissue/articles.php?issue=18&id=1037 http://www.siyaha.org/siyaha_news/14506 9 https://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/country/jordan.html8 http://www.siyaha.org/node/14773 10 https://www.usaid.gov/jordan/fact-sheets/usaid-building-economic-sustainability-through-tourism LANGUISHING IN LIBYA THE U.S. AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT (USAID) SPENT $8,820,830 ON BUILDING LIBYAN CONFIDENCE IN LIBYA’S GOVERNMENT AND DEMOCRACY In 2011, the United States, along with NATO allies,intervened in Libya to topple the Qaddafi governmentamidst an uprising and civil war. The legacy of the U.S.intervention in Libya has been far-reaching. Libya hasfallen into disarray and large swaths of territory areeffectively controlled by terrorists. Americans have diedtrying to bring stability to the country. Libya has beendescribed as a terrorist safe haven by the U.S. StateDepartment, and according to the Congressional ResearchService, “...military action against the Islamic State, Al Militants play in the swimming pool at a U.S. diplomatic facility in Libya in 2014 (New York Daily News, Aug 31, 2014)Qaeda, and other extremists in Libya may continue and/orexpand in as yet unspecified ways, even if political though, around $150 million has been put toward Libya’sconsensus among Libyans remains elusive.” 1 governance since 2011. 4 Administering these programs and assessing their success is complicated by the fact that “[...] We thought we knew what would Against this the U.S. Embassy in Libya has been abandoned since happen in Libya. We thought we knew backdrop, 2014 due to security concerns. 5 what would happen in Egypt. We thought USAID has we knew what would happen in Iraq, and spent millions The security situation in Tripoli, Libya’s capital, we guessed wrong. In each one of these to instill trust in deteriorated so quickly that U.S. personnel were forced to countries the thing we have to consider is make an armored car getaway to Tunisia while being the Libyan that there is some structure... that’s holding the society together. And as we people toward escorted by F-16s and other military aircraft. 6 At least part learned, especially in Libya, when you their new of the diplomatic complex has since fallen into the hands of remove the top and the whole thing falls democratic militant groups. While the U.S. government’s effort to help apart, there’s nothing underneath it you government, as get chaos.” Libyans secure their country and establish institutions well as belief in Gen. Colin Powell (Ret.) the democratic continues, taxpayers are already confronted with the As quoted in The Atlantic, September 30, 2015 “The Pottery Barn Rule: Syria Edition” by Kathy Gilsinan process “...as a difficult questions that come with leaving a power vacuum vehicle for in a volatile region of the world. It is important to studypeacefully and democratically selecting leaders.” 2 whether the high cost has been justified, to learn from thisHowever, the elections support program highlighted here is U.S. intervention for the future, and determine how muchonly one example of the significant taxpayer cost to build more time the U.S. should devote to cleaning up the messLibya’s institutions and to establish democratic values in a in Libya.country where they face significant challenges. For example, foreign assistance data compiled byUSAID shows taxpayers have spent approximately$297 million in Libya since toppling Qaddafi, 3 a figurethat is incomplete given that 2016 and 2015 reporting is notyet finalized. Of the total spending figures available,

With approximately 4 million miles of roads in

the United States,1 the quest for improved road safety is (quite literally) a moving target. For every road that is expanded or improved, it seems another falls in need of maintenance. But while Americans grapple with difficult funding questions of how to address highway safety, the federal government is working to improve safety beyond America’s highways. A video posted on the Facebook page of US Embassy Rangoon takes viewers on a drive through the highway improvements For example, USAID spent $1 million on a (facebook.com/usembassy.rangoon) highway safety demonstration project in Myanmar. 2 Myanmar originally built the Yangon- of Project Report. 5 The report notes the Mandalay Highway without access to highway’s “[d]esign and construction deficiencies” international expertise as a result of international such as “improper horizontal and vertical sanctions. 3 Because the road does not meet alignments, poor placement of Jersey barriers international standards, it presents many hazards and guardrails, uneven pavement surfaces, and for travelers in the region. As U.S. relations with overly narrow, poorly aligned bridges.” Project Myanmar improved in recent years, USAID documents indicate that Myanmar’s Ministry of conducted a demonstration project on one 10km Construction “is encouraged” to implement similar section of the road to provide a model for future improvements over the rest of the highway.6 improvements. 4 Among the improvements to the Considering that it required $1 million to improve road under the demonstration project were a 10km stretch of the 621km highway, it is not rumble strips, concrete barrier reflectors, clear whether the Ministry of Construction would reflective paint, and reflective signs. take such action on their own, or if they would use the money to make structural improvements if Moving forward, however, the project will face they pursued improvements. Either way, it is numerous challenges, such as the central difficult to see how American taxpayers obtained government’s ability to maintain the road a clear benefit from the project when weighed improvements — particularly the already- against domestic road projects that lack funding. degrading reflective paint and rumble strips on the road surface, as identified by USAID in their End

s/html/table_01_04.html2 Ibid. 5 Press Release. US Embassy Rangoon. June 9, 2014.3 http://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/18/world/asia/myanmar-burma-sanctions.html?_r=0 http://www.photos.state.gov/libraries/burma/895/pdf/06-09-2014Yangon-4 http://photos.state.gov/libraries/burma/895/pdf/06-09-2014Yangon- Mandalay_Highway_Safety.pdfMandalay_Highway_Safety.pdf 6 http://pdf.usaid.gov/pdf_docs/PA00KSZX.pdf HOW TO GET COUNTRIES INTERESTED IN GREEN LIVING? PAY FOR IT THE U.S. AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT (USAID) SPENT $11,441,758 TO PROMOTE GREEN BUILDINGS AND DEVELOPMENT IN VIETNAM

Rapid change in Vietnam has brought growth within the country, and then back to Vietnam. Not and demand for new buildings, so USAID — a very energy efficient plan! perhaps under the assumption that builders will Meanwhile, USAID also contributed $2.4 only pursue energy efficiency if American million toward the UNDP’s Green Growth Project, taxpayers help cover some of the costs — has an international program to help Vietnam committed millions toward promotion of energy- implement its own new green policies and to efficient buildings and building materials through achieve its internal sustainable development the Vietnam Clean Energy Program.1 Not only goals. 6 does the program help teach government officials about how to enforce burdensome energy efficiency compliance rules, 2 but it also included a two-week visit to the United States for a Vietnamese delegation that included the Ministry of Construction, the Energy Conservation Center in Hanoi, and the Ho Chi Minh City University of Architecture.3 The delegation toured green projects and held meetings from Washington, D.C., to New York and from Texas to California before returning to Vietnam. 4 American taxpayers, meanwhile, might wonder why it was necessary to spend over $155,000 on travel, per diem, and other costs 5 to send Vietnamese officials to green energy meetings on the other side of the planet. One can’t help but imagine how much energy could have been saved by using video chatting software to hold meetings. Instead planners decided to fly the Vietnamese delegation around the world to the United States, to various locales